Pipeline Improvement Projects
As your natural gas distribution company, our top priority is the safe and dependable delivery of natural gas service to your home or business.
We constantly study our gas pipeline system to be sure it meets our service expectations — in neighborhoods both old and new. As a service to our valued customers, we will be replacing portions of our pipeline system in communities across Ohio to ensure the safest, most reliable delivery of natural gas to all of our customers. These projects are part of a $2 billion commitment being made by Columbia Gas of Ohio.
The pipelines that bring natural gas down your street and into your home or business are often steel pipe. Just like other important parts of the infrastructure in our communities, such as highways and bridges, the age and condition of these facilities can impact their safety and reliability. While your current system has performed well, it is now time to replace this aging pipe, usually with much longer-lasting, specially-designed, plastic pipe.
A graphic of the gas pipeline system and connection to your home or business is shown below. You will receive information at your home or business during construction regarding any work to be done at your address.
We know you will have many questions and we intend to answer all of them. In addition to this information, you can reference commonly asked Questions & Answers, as well as some facts about each project listed in the Are You Working In My Community? section.
The graphic below shows a typical gas pipeline system in a neighborhood. The main line carries natural gas in pipes under the street or alley. A connection at each house or business allows gas to flow into the customer service line and into the building.
Steps
As the project occurs in your neighborhood, the following steps will occur:
- REPLACE the main gas pipeline. This pipe usually runs underneath your street or alley.
- REPLACE the customer service line — the pipe that runs from the main gas pipeline to your home or business.
- RELOCATE any indoor gas meters to the outside of the home or business. (If the meter already is outside your home or business, this step will not be necessary. Relocating your meter means you no longer will need to have someone present when the meter is read.)
We realize a project of this size might cause some inconveniences to you and we apologize for any disruption. But when it is done, your neighborhood will have the most modern, safe and reliable gas delivery system anywhere. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
Major Components of the Investment:
Aging pipeline replacement
Modernizes
the system for safer delivery and potential economic development.
Columbia will invest more than $2 billion in the next 25 years replacing
4,000 miles of natural gas infrastructure.
Customer Service Line Responsibility
Customers
no longer are subject to repairs that can individually run into the
thousands of dollars. Columbia has assumed responsibility for the
maintenance and replacement of customer service lines for its more than
one million customers across the state.
Columbia Gas does not
control the cost of the delivered product—natural gas. By law, Columbia
and other utilities cannot profit from the sale of natural gas.
Columbia's revenues come from a service and delivery charge approved by
the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO).